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csmsss · June 25, 2013, 02:13 PM

For black bear, I'd suggest that any reasonably powerful .30 cal & up chambering should do nicely - but I don't think I'd trust a .30-30.

If somehow against all odds I found myself in brown/grizzly/polar bear country, well...beyond the bear spray I'd be toting something a bit more potent - I'd consider .35 Whelen a minimum but would be happier with a medium to large bore magnum like a .338 Win Mag, .378 Wby Mag, .375 H&H, etc. I am not a fan of the "just enough" school of rifle selection, particularly when it comes to shooting at critters which might just decide they'd like to ruin my day.

One thing that has always struck me as curious is the idea of bear spray as "first line of defense". In order for bear spray to be effective, the bear has to be close enough to you that, essentially, there is no second line of defense if the bear spray doesn't work.

June 25, 2013, 02:13 PM	#17
csmsss Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Orange, TX Posts: 3,078	For black bear, I'd suggest that any reasonably powerful .30 cal & up chambering should do nicely - but I don't think I'd trust a .30-30. If somehow against all odds I found myself in brown/grizzly/polar bear country, well...beyond the bear spray I'd be toting something a bit more potent - I'd consider .35 Whelen a minimum but would be happier with a medium to large bore magnum like a .338 Win Mag, .378 Wby Mag, .375 H&H, etc. I am not a fan of the "just enough" school of rifle selection, particularly when it comes to shooting at critters which might just decide they'd like to ruin my day. One thing that has always struck me as curious is the idea of bear spray as "first line of defense". In order for bear spray to be effective, the bear has to be close enough to you that, essentially, there is no second line of defense if the bear spray doesn't work.